New provision in the Violent Crime Reduction Act

HOME OFFICE News
Release (097/2007) issued by The Government News Network on 31 May 2007

A new power for
the police to enter and search a registered sex offender's
home, to assess the risk they pose to our communities, was today
welcomed by Home Secretary John Reid.

The new measure, which comes into force under the Violent Crime
Reduction Act, means that where an offender has denied access to
the police on more than one occasion, the police can apply for a
warrant to enter and search the property, by force if necessary.

For example, if a police officer sees a child's bike in the
house of a registered sex offender, the officer might then decide
to search for further evidence to reassess the risk posed by the
offender. Where it can be demonstrated that the offender poses a
risk of serious sexual harm, the police could then apply for a
Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) or decide whether it was
necessary to alert others to the presence of the offender.

This provision is about prevention and managing the risk of
offenders - no new crime has to have happened for the police to
apply for a warrant from a magistrate to enter and search.

Home Secretary John Reid said:"Protecting the public
from sex offenders is one of the highest priorities for the
Government. Nowhere is this more true than with children.

"Our supervision and public protection arrangements are
already among the best in the world. We are one of only seven
countries to have a sex offenders' register, but we are
always looking to update and improve our current arrangements.

"This new power will help police better manage known sex
offenders and allow preventative action to be taken before an
offence actually happens."

2. Sexual offences prevention orders (SOPOs) were introduced by
the Sexual Offences Act 2003. They are used to impose prohibitions
on violent offenders or sex offenders who pose a risk of serious
sexual harm. For example, a SOPO could be used to prohibit an
offender from being alone with children under 16 and from
loitering outside playgrounds. If an offender breaches the
prohibitions contained in a SOPO, this is a criminal offence and
he is liable to a maximum of 5 years' imprisonment.